@aztec/simulator 0.0.1-commit.993d52e → 0.0.1-commit.9a89641

package/src/private/circuit_recording/circuit_recorder.ts

@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ import { type Logger, type LoggerBindings, resolveLogger } from '@aztec/foundati
 import { Timer } from '@aztec/foundation/timer';
 import type { ForeignCallHandler, ForeignCallInput, ForeignCallOutput } from '@aztec/noir-acvm_js';
 
+import { AsyncLocalStorage } from 'node:async_hooks';
+
 import type { ACIRCallback } from '../acvm/acvm.js';
 import type { ACVMWitness } from '../acvm/acvm_types.js';
 
@@ -43,10 +45,23 @@ export class CircuitRecording {
   }
 }
 
+/** Inputs needed to open a recording for a single circuit execution. */
+export type RecordingMetadata = {
+  input: ACVMWitness;
+  bytecode: Buffer;
+  circuitName: string;
+  functionName: string;
+};
+
 /**
  * Class responsible for recording circuit inputs necessary to replay the circuit. These inputs are the initial witness
  * map and the oracle calls made during the circuit execution/witness generation.
  *
+ * The active recording for an execution lives in `AsyncLocalStorage`, so each (possibly nested) circuit execution owns
+ * its own recording and concurrent or re-entrant executions cannot corrupt one another's state. Nested executions
+ * (`aztec_prv_callPrivateFunction`, utility calls) re-enter {@link record}, which links the child to the recording
+ * active in the enclosing async context and lets ALS restore the parent automatically when the child completes.
+ *
  * Example recording object:
  * ```json
  * {
@@ -91,37 +106,44 @@ export class CircuitRecording {
 export class CircuitRecorder {
   protected readonly logger: Logger;
 
-  protected recording?: CircuitRecording;
-
-  private stackDepth: number = 0;
-  private newCircuit: boolean = true;
+  readonly #recordings = new AsyncLocalStorage<CircuitRecording>();
 
   protected constructor(loggerOrBindings?: Logger | LoggerBindings) {
     this.logger = resolveLogger('simulator:acvm:recording', loggerOrBindings);
   }
 
   /**
-   * Initializes a new circuit recording session.
-   * @param recordDir - Directory to store the recording
-   * @param input - Circuit input witness
-   * @param circuitBytecode - Compiled circuit bytecode
-   * @param circuitName - Name of the circuit
-   * @param functionName - Name of the circuit function (defaults to 'main'). This is meaningful only for
-   * contracts as protocol circuits artifacts always contain a single entrypoint function called 'main'.
+   * Records a single circuit execution. Opens a recording for the circuit (linked as a child of the recording active
+   * in the current async context, if any), runs `fn` within that recording's context, and finalizes it. The recording
+   * is returned alongside the result so callers can derive per-circuit stats (e.g. oracle timings).
+   *
+   * Recorder bookkeeping never alters execution: if `fn` throws, the error is attached to the recording and re-thrown
+   * unchanged.
+   * @param metadata - Identifies the circuit and its initial witness.
+   * @param fn - Runs the circuit execution; its oracle calls are recorded into this recording.
    */
-  start(input: ACVMWitness, circuitBytecode: Buffer, circuitName: string, functionName: string): Promise<void> {
-    if (this.newCircuit) {
-      const parentRef = this.recording;
-      this.recording = new CircuitRecording(
-        circuitName,
-        functionName,
-        sha512(circuitBytecode).toString('hex'),
-        Object.fromEntries(input),
-      );
-      this.recording.setParent(parentRef);
-    }
+  record<T>(metadata: RecordingMetadata, fn: () => Promise<T>): Promise<{ result: T; recording: CircuitRecording }> {
+    const parent = this.#recordings.getStore();
+    const recording = new CircuitRecording(
+      metadata.circuitName,
+      metadata.functionName,
+      sha512(metadata.bytecode).toString('hex'),
+      Object.fromEntries(metadata.input),
+    );
+    recording.setParent(parent);
 
-    return Promise.resolve();
+    return this.#recordings.run(recording, async () => {
+      await this.onStart(recording);
+      try {
+        const result = await fn();
+        await this.onFinish(recording);
+        return { result, recording };
+      } catch (error) {
+        recording.error = JSON.stringify(error);
+        await this.onError(recording, error);
+        throw error;
+      }
+    });
   }
 
   /**
@@ -147,7 +169,9 @@ export class CircuitRecorder {
   }
 
   /**
-   * Wraps a user circuit callback to record all oracle calls.
+   * Wraps a user circuit callback to record all oracle calls. A nested circuit entered via an oracle (e.g.
+   * `aztec_prv_callPrivateFunction`) re-enters {@link record}, so its own oracle calls land on the child recording and
+   * this circuit's calls (including the entering oracle call itself) land on this recording once the child completes.
    * @param callback - The original circuit callback.
    * @returns A wrapped callback that records all oracle interactions which is to be provided to the ACVM.
    */
@@ -161,38 +185,16 @@ export class CircuitRecorder {
         throw new Error(`Oracle method ${name} not found when setting up recording callback`);
       }
 
-      const isExternalCall = (name as keyof ACIRCallback) === 'privateCallPrivateFunction';
-
       recordingCallback[name as keyof ACIRCallback] = (...args: ForeignCallInput[]): ReturnType<typeof fn> => {
         const timer = new Timer();
-        // If we're entering another circuit via `privateCallPrivateFunction`, we increase the stack depth and set the
-        // newCircuit variable to ensure we are creating a new recording object.
-        if (isExternalCall) {
-          this.stackDepth++;
-          this.newCircuit = true;
-        }
         const result = fn.call(callback, ...args);
         if (result instanceof Promise) {
           return result.then(async r => {
-            // Once we leave the nested circuit, we decrease the stack depth and set newCircuit to false
-            // so that the parent circuit continues with its existing recording
-            // Note: recording restoration is handled by finish()
-            if (isExternalCall) {
-              this.stackDepth--;
-              this.newCircuit = false;
-            }
-            await this.recordCall(name, args, r, timer.ms(), this.stackDepth);
+            await this.recordCall(name, args, r, timer.ms());
             return r;
           }) as ReturnType<typeof fn>;
         }
-        // Once we leave the nested circuit, we decrease the stack depth and set newCircuit to false
-        // so that the parent circuit continues with its existing recording
-        // Note: recording restoration is handled by finish()
-        if (isExternalCall) {
-          this.stackDepth--;
-          this.newCircuit = false;
-        }
-        void this.recordCall(name, args, result, timer.ms(), this.stackDepth);
+        void this.recordCall(name, args, result, timer.ms());
         return result;
       };
     }
@@ -209,55 +211,59 @@ export class CircuitRecorder {
     return async (name: string, inputs: ForeignCallInput[]): Promise<ForeignCallOutput[]> => {
       const timer = new Timer();
       const result = await callback(name, inputs);
-      await this.recordCall(name, inputs, result, timer.ms(), 0);
+      await this.recordCall(name, inputs, result, timer.ms());
       return result;
     };
   }
 
   /**
-   * Records a single oracle/foreign call with its inputs and outputs.
+   * Records a single oracle/foreign call with its inputs and outputs against the recording active in the current
+   * async context.
    * @param name - Name of the call
    * @param inputs - Input arguments
    * @param outputs - Output results
    */
-  recordCall(name: string, inputs: unknown[], outputs: unknown, time: number, stackDepth: number): Promise<OracleCall> {
+  recordCall(name: string, inputs: unknown[], outputs: unknown, time: number): Promise<OracleCall> {
+    const recording = this.#recordings.getStore();
     const entry = {
       name,
       inputs,
       outputs,
       time,
-      stackDepth,
+      stackDepth: depthOf(recording),
     };
-    this.recording!.oracleCalls.push(entry);
+    // Outside any active recording context (e.g. a stray call after the scope closed, or a direct unit-test call)
+    // there is nowhere to record; return the entry without throwing into the execution path.
+    recording?.oracleCalls.push(entry);
     return Promise.resolve(entry);
   }
 
-  /**
-   * Finalizes the recording by resetting the state and returning the recording object.
-   */
-  finish(): Promise<CircuitRecording> {
-    const result = this.recording;
-    // If this is the top-level circuit recording, we reset the state for the next simulator call
-    if (!result!.parent) {
-      this.newCircuit = true;
-      this.recording = undefined;
-    } else {
-      // For nested circuits (utility calls, nested contract calls), restore to parent recording
-      // Note: we don't set newCircuit=false here because:
-      // - For privateCallPrivateFunction, the callback wrapper will set it to false
-      // - For utility calls, we want newCircuit to remain true so the next circuit creates its own recording
-      this.recording = result!.parent;
-    }
-    return Promise.resolve(result!);
+  /** The recording active in the current async context, if any. */
+  protected currentRecording(): CircuitRecording | undefined {
+    return this.#recordings.getStore();
   }
 
-  /**
-   * Finalizes the recording by resetting the state and returning the recording object with an attached error.
-   * @param error - The error that occurred during circuit execution
-   */
-  async finishWithError(error: unknown): Promise<CircuitRecording> {
-    const result = await this.finish();
-    result.error = JSON.stringify(error);
-    return result;
+  /** Hook invoked when a recording opens, within the recording's context. Overridden to persist recordings. */
+  protected onStart(_recording: CircuitRecording): Promise<void> {
+    return Promise.resolve();
+  }
+
+  /** Hook invoked when a recording completes successfully, within the recording's context. */
+  protected onFinish(_recording: CircuitRecording): Promise<void> {
+    return Promise.resolve();
+  }
+
+  /** Hook invoked when a recording's execution throws, within the recording's context. */
+  protected onError(_recording: CircuitRecording, _error: unknown): Promise<void> {
+    return Promise.resolve();
+  }
+}
+
+/** Depth of a recording in the call tree: 0 for a top-level circuit, incremented per nested circuit. */
+function depthOf(recording: CircuitRecording | undefined): number {
+  let depth = 0;
+  for (let ancestor = recording?.parent; ancestor; ancestor = ancestor.parent) {
+    depth++;
   }
+  return depth;
 }

package/src/private/circuit_recording/file_circuit_recorder.ts

@@ -3,11 +3,13 @@ import type { Logger } from '@aztec/foundation/log';
 import fs from 'fs/promises';
 import path from 'path';
 
-import type { ACVMWitness } from '../acvm/acvm_types.js';
 import { CircuitRecorder, type CircuitRecording } from './circuit_recorder.js';
 
+/** Per-recording file state, keyed by recording so concurrent/nested executions don't share it. */
+type RecordingFileState = { filePath: string; isFirstCall: boolean };
+
 export class FileCircuitRecorder extends CircuitRecorder {
-  declare recording?: CircuitRecording & { filePath: string; isFirstCall: boolean };
+  readonly #fileState = new WeakMap<CircuitRecording, RecordingFileState>();
 
   constructor(
     private readonly recordDir: string,
@@ -16,16 +18,9 @@ export class FileCircuitRecorder extends CircuitRecorder {
     super(logger);
   }
 
-  override async start(
-    input: ACVMWitness,
-    circuitBytecode: Buffer,
-    circuitName: string,
-    functionName: string = 'main',
-  ) {
-    await super.start(input, circuitBytecode, circuitName, functionName);
-
+  protected override async onStart(recording: CircuitRecording): Promise<void> {
     const recordingStringWithoutClosingBracket = JSON.stringify(
-      { ...this.recording, isFirstCall: undefined, parent: undefined, oracleCalls: undefined, filePath: undefined },
+      { ...recording, parent: undefined, oracleCalls: undefined },
       null,
       2,
     ).slice(0, -2);
@@ -45,13 +40,13 @@ export class FileCircuitRecorder extends CircuitRecorder {
       }
     }
 
-    this.recording!.isFirstCall = true;
-    this.recording!.filePath = await FileCircuitRecorder.#computeFilePathAndStoreInitialRecording(
+    const filePath = await FileCircuitRecorder.#computeFilePathAndStoreInitialRecording(
       this.recordDir,
-      this.recording!.circuitName,
-      this.recording!.functionName,
+      recording.circuitName,
+      recording.functionName,
       recordingStringWithoutClosingBracket,
     );
+    this.#fileState.set(recording, { filePath, isFirstCall: true });
   }
 
   /**
@@ -95,53 +90,48 @@ export class FileCircuitRecorder extends CircuitRecorder {
    * @param inputs - Input arguments
    * @param outputs - Output results
    */
-  override async recordCall(name: string, inputs: unknown[], outputs: unknown, time: number, stackDepth: number) {
-    const entry = await super.recordCall(name, inputs, outputs, time, stackDepth);
-    try {
-      const prefix = this.recording!.isFirstCall ? '    ' : '    ,';
-      this.recording!.isFirstCall = false;
-      await fs.appendFile(this.recording!.filePath, prefix + JSON.stringify(entry) + '\n');
-    } catch (err) {
-      this.logger.error('Failed to log circuit call', { error: err });
+  override async recordCall(name: string, inputs: unknown[], outputs: unknown, time: number) {
+    const entry = await super.recordCall(name, inputs, outputs, time);
+    const recording = this.currentRecording();
+    const state = recording && this.#fileState.get(recording);
+    if (state) {
+      try {
+        const prefix = state.isFirstCall ? '    ' : '    ,';
+        state.isFirstCall = false;
+        await fs.appendFile(state.filePath, prefix + JSON.stringify(entry) + '\n');
+      } catch (err) {
+        this.logger.error('Failed to log circuit call', { error: err });
+      }
     }
     return entry;
   }
 
-  /**
-   * Finalizes the recording file by adding closing brackets. Without calling this method, the recording file is
-   * incomplete and it fails to parse.
-   */
-  override async finish(): Promise<CircuitRecording> {
-    // Finish sets the recording to undefined if we are at the topmost circuit,
-    // so we save the current file path before that
-    const filePath = this.recording!.filePath;
-    const result = await super.finish();
+  /** Closes the recording file with the trailing brackets so the JSON parses. */
+  protected override async onFinish(recording: CircuitRecording): Promise<void> {
+    const state = this.#fileState.get(recording);
+    if (!state) {
+      return;
+    }
     try {
-      await fs.appendFile(filePath, '  ]\n}\n');
+      await fs.appendFile(state.filePath, '  ]\n}\n');
     } catch (err) {
       this.logger.error('Failed to finalize recording file', { error: err });
     }
-    return result!;
   }
 
-  /**
-   * Finalizes the recording file by adding the error and closing brackets. Without calling this method or `finish`,
-   * the recording file is incomplete and it fails to parse.
-   * @param error - The error that occurred during circuit execution
-   */
-  override async finishWithError(error: unknown): Promise<CircuitRecording> {
-    // Finish sets the recording to undefined if we are at the topmost circuit,
-    // so we save the current file path before that
-    const filePath = this.recording!.filePath;
-    const result = await super.finishWithError(error);
+  /** Closes the recording file with the execution error and trailing brackets so the JSON parses. */
+  protected override async onError(recording: CircuitRecording, error: unknown): Promise<void> {
+    const state = this.#fileState.get(recording);
+    if (!state) {
+      return;
+    }
     try {
-      await fs.appendFile(filePath, '  ],\n');
-      await fs.appendFile(filePath, `  "error": ${JSON.stringify(error)}\n`);
-      await fs.appendFile(filePath, '}\n');
+      await fs.appendFile(state.filePath, '  ],\n');
+      await fs.appendFile(state.filePath, `  "error": ${JSON.stringify(error)}\n`);
+      await fs.appendFile(state.filePath, '}\n');
     } catch (err) {
       this.logger.error('Failed to finalize recording file with error', { error: err });
     }
-    return result!;
   }
 }
 

package/src/private/circuit_recording/simulator_recorder_wrapper.ts

@@ -58,24 +58,18 @@ export class SimulatorRecorderWrapper implements CircuitSimulator {
     functionName: string,
     callback: C,
   ): Promise<T> {
-    // Start recording circuit execution
-    await this.recorder.start(input, bytecode, contractName, functionName);
-
-    // If callback was provided, we wrap it in a circuit recorder callback wrapper
+    // If a callback was provided, we wrap it so that its oracle calls are recorded. The wrapped callback reads the
+    // active recording lazily, so it picks up the recording opened by record() below.
     const wrappedCallback = this.recorder.wrapCallback(callback);
-    let result: T;
-    try {
-      result = await simulateFn(wrappedCallback as C);
-    } catch (error) {
-      // If an error occurs, we finalize the recording file with the error
-      await this.recorder.finishWithError(error);
-      throw error;
-    }
 
-    // Witness generation is complete so we finish the circuit recorder
-    const recording = await this.recorder.finish();
+    // record() opens a recording for this circuit, runs the simulation within it, and finalizes it. A simulation
+    // failure is re-thrown unchanged, so recorder bookkeeping never masks the underlying error.
+    const { result, recording } = await this.recorder.record(
+      { input, bytecode, circuitName: contractName, functionName },
+      () => simulateFn(wrappedCallback as C),
+    );
 
-    (result as ACIRExecutionResult).oracles = recording.oracleCalls?.reduce(
+    (result as ACIRExecutionResult).oracles = recording.oracleCalls.reduce(
       (acc, { time, name }) => {
         if (!acc[name]) {
           acc[name] = { times: [] };

package/src/public/avm/{fixtures → testing}/base_avm_simulation_tester.ts

@@ -2,9 +2,10 @@ import { CONTRACT_INSTANCE_REGISTRY_CONTRACT_ADDRESS } from '@aztec/constants';
 import { Fr } from '@aztec/foundation/curves/bn254';
 import { createLogger } from '@aztec/foundation/log';
 import { ProtocolContractAddress } from '@aztec/protocol-contracts';
-import { getCanonicalAuthRegistry } from '@aztec/protocol-contracts/auth-registry';
+import { getCanonicalClassRegistry } from '@aztec/protocol-contracts/class-registry';
 import { computeFeePayerBalanceStorageSlot, getCanonicalFeeJuice } from '@aztec/protocol-contracts/fee-juice';
 import { getCanonicalInstanceRegistry } from '@aztec/protocol-contracts/instance-registry';
+import { getStandardAuthRegistry } from '@aztec/standard-contracts/auth-registry';
 import type { ContractArtifact } from '@aztec/stdlib/abi';
 import { PublicDataWrite } from '@aztec/stdlib/avm';
 import { AztecAddress } from '@aztec/stdlib/aztec-address';
@@ -91,7 +92,7 @@ export abstract class BaseAvmSimulationTester {
   }
 
   async registerAuthContract(): Promise<ContractInstanceWithAddress> {
-    const authRegistry = await getCanonicalAuthRegistry();
+    const authRegistry = await getStandardAuthRegistry();
     const authRegistryContractClassPublic = {
       ...authRegistry.contractClass,
       privateFunctions: [],
@@ -102,9 +103,28 @@ export abstract class BaseAvmSimulationTester {
       authRegistryContractClassPublic,
       authRegistry.instance,
     );
+    // AuthRegistry is a standard contract (not a protocol contract), so the AVM enforces a
+    // deployment-nullifier check on every instance retrieval. Insert the nullifier here so
+    // calls to AuthRegistry don't EXCEPTIONAL_HALT during simulation.
+    await this.insertContractAddressNullifier(authRegistry.instance.address);
     return authRegistry.instance;
   }
 
+  async registerClassRegistryContract(): Promise<ContractInstanceWithAddress> {
+    const classRegistry = await getCanonicalClassRegistry();
+    const classRegistryContractClassPublic = {
+      ...classRegistry.contractClass,
+      privateFunctions: [],
+      utilityFunctions: [],
+    };
+    await this.contractDataSource.addNewContract(
+      classRegistry.artifact,
+      classRegistryContractClassPublic,
+      classRegistry.instance,
+    );
+    return classRegistry.instance;
+  }
+
   async registerInstanceRegistryContract(): Promise<ContractInstanceWithAddress> {
     const instanceRegistry = await getCanonicalInstanceRegistry();
     const instanceRegistryContractClassPublic = {
@@ -129,7 +149,7 @@ export abstract class BaseAvmSimulationTester {
 
   private async insertContractAddressNullifier(contractAddress: AztecAddress) {
     const contractAddressNullifier = await siloNullifier(
-      AztecAddress.fromNumber(CONTRACT_INSTANCE_REGISTRY_CONTRACT_ADDRESS),
+      AztecAddress.fromNumberUnsafe(CONTRACT_INSTANCE_REGISTRY_CONTRACT_ADDRESS),
       contractAddress.toField(),
     );
     await this.merkleTrees.sequentialInsert(MerkleTreeId.NULLIFIER_TREE, [contractAddressNullifier.toBuffer()]);

package/src/public/avm/{fixtures → testing}/utils.ts

@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@ import {
   type ContractInstanceWithAddress,
   computeInitializationHash,
 } from '@aztec/stdlib/contract';
-import { isNoirCallStackUnresolved } from '@aztec/stdlib/errors';
 import { siloNullifier } from '@aztec/stdlib/hash';
 import { deriveKeys } from '@aztec/stdlib/keys';
 import { makeContractClassPublic, makeContractInstanceFromClassId } from '@aztec/stdlib/testing';
@@ -23,10 +22,6 @@ import type { UInt64 } from '@aztec/stdlib/types';
 import { strict as assert } from 'assert';
 import merge from 'lodash.merge';
 
-import { resolveAssertionMessageFromRevertData, traverseCauseChain } from '../../../common/index.js';
-import { Field, Uint8, Uint32, Uint64 } from '../avm_memory_types.js';
-import type { AvmRevertReason } from '../errors.js';
-
 export const PUBLIC_DISPATCH_FN_NAME = 'public_dispatch';
 export const DEFAULT_TIMESTAMP: UInt64 = 99833n;
 export const DEFAULT_BLOCK_NUMBER = BlockNumber(42);
@@ -38,22 +33,6 @@ export function allSameExcept(original: any, overrides: any): any {
   return merge({}, original, overrides);
 }
 
-export function randomMemoryBytes(length: number): Uint8[] {
-  return [...Array(length)].map(_ => new Uint8(Math.floor(Math.random() * 255)));
-}
-
-export function randomMemoryUint32s(length: number): Uint32[] {
-  return [...Array(length)].map(_ => new Uint32(Math.floor(Math.random() * 255)));
-}
-
-export function randomMemoryUint64s(length: number): Uint64[] {
-  return [...Array(length)].map(_ => new Uint64(Math.floor(Math.random() * 255)));
-}
-
-export function randomMemoryFields(length: number): Field[] {
-  return [...Array(length)].map(_ => new Field(Fr.random()));
-}
-
 export function getFunctionSelector(
   functionName: string,
   contractArtifact: ContractArtifact,
@@ -81,24 +60,6 @@ export function getContractFunctionAbi(
   );
 }
 
-export function resolveContractAssertionMessage(
-  functionName: string,
-  revertReason: AvmRevertReason,
-  output: Fr[],
-  contractArtifact: ContractArtifact,
-): string | undefined {
-  traverseCauseChain(revertReason, cause => {
-    revertReason = cause as AvmRevertReason;
-  });
-
-  const functionArtifact = getAllFunctionAbis(contractArtifact).find(f => f.name === functionName);
-  if (!functionArtifact || !revertReason.noirCallStack || !isNoirCallStackUnresolved(revertReason.noirCallStack)) {
-    return undefined;
-  }
-
-  return resolveAssertionMessageFromRevertData(output, functionArtifact);
-}
-
 /**
  * Create a contract class and instance given constructor args, artifact, etc.
  * NOTE: This is useful for testing real-ish contract class registration and instance deployment TXs (via logs)
@@ -128,22 +89,25 @@ export async function createContractClassAndInstance(
   const constructorAbi = getContractFunctionAbi('constructor', contractArtifact);
   const { publicKeys } = await deriveKeys(new Fr(seed));
   const initializationHash = await computeInitializationHash(constructorAbi, constructorArgs);
+  const immutablesHash = new Fr(seed + 1);
   const contractInstance =
     originalContractClassId === undefined
       ? await makeContractInstanceFromClassId(contractClass.id, seed, {
           deployer,
           initializationHash,
+          immutablesHash,
           publicKeys,
         })
       : await makeContractInstanceFromClassId(originalContractClassId, seed, {
           deployer,
           initializationHash,
           currentClassId: contractClass.id,
+          immutablesHash,
           publicKeys,
         });
 
   const contractAddressNullifier = await siloNullifier(
-    AztecAddress.fromNumber(CONTRACT_INSTANCE_REGISTRY_CONTRACT_ADDRESS),
+    AztecAddress.fromNumberUnsafe(CONTRACT_INSTANCE_REGISTRY_CONTRACT_ADDRESS),
     contractInstance.address.toField(),
   );
 

package/src/public/avm_simulator.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+import type { PublicContractsDB } from './public_db_sources.js';
+
+/**
+ * Identifies the contract data a single simulation reads. The AVM's contract-data lookups during a
+ * `simulate` call are answered from `contractsDB`; `forkId` and `timestamp` scope those lookups to the
+ * world-state fork being simulated against. How this reaches the AVM (in-process call, IPC callback
+ * server, ...) is the implementation's concern — callers only supply the context.
+ */
+export interface AvmContractsDBContext {
+  contractsDB: PublicContractsDB;
+  forkId: number;
+  timestamp: bigint;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Something that can run AVM simulations, independent of how the work is dispatched (a single external
+ * process, a pool of them, or an in-process stub). Callers hold this and never see the underlying transport.
+ */
+export interface AvmSimulator {
+  /**
+   * Run a fast simulation and return the msgpack-encoded result. `context` supplies the contracts DB whose
+   * data the simulation reads. If `signal` aborts, the simulation stops at the next cancellation checkpoint.
+   */
+  simulate(inputBuffer: Uint8Array, context: AvmContractsDBContext, signal?: AbortSignal): Promise<Uint8Array>;
+  /** Run a simulation collecting proving hints and return the msgpack-encoded result. */
+  simulateWithHints(inputBuffer: Uint8Array): Promise<Uint8Array>;
+  /** Release any resources held by the underlying implementation. */
+  destroy?(): Promise<void>;
+}